Circular hosiery knitting machine



Sept. 7, 1937. H. E. KATZENMOYER 2,092,315 7 CIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 13, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: [N VEN TOR:

. I I Hdrr EQJfat ezzmoyer I BY j I TTORNEYS.

Sept. 7, 1937. v H. E. KATZENMOYER 2,092,315

CIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE Filed.Feb. 13, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheets y Zil- WITNESSES:

V INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 7, 1937. H. E KATZE NMOYE R CIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE 7 Shegts-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 13, 1935 W I TNESSES:

INVEN TOR: Harr Ejfaigeizizwyez; BY

TTORNEYS.

Sept. 7, 1937. H. E. KATZENMOYER CIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR: Harry Ejfaigelzmoyez; BY

TTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

Septg7, 1937. H. E. KATZENMOYER 2,092,315

CIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 13, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. A.

INVENTOR:

( ATTORNEYS.

. p 7, 1937. H. E. KATZENMOYER 4 2,092,315

CIRCULAR v I Fi-l'ed 7 Sheets-Sh V FIG. M.

fi- -H FIG. AT

A L Y WWW Y2 Y x I?? I Patented Sept. 7, 1937 CIRCULAR HOSIERY KNITTING MACHINE Harry E. Katzenmoyer, Reading, Pa., a'ssignor to Chas. Chipmans Sons 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 13, 1935, Serial No. 6,278

. I 6 Claims.

This invention. relates to circular hosiery knitting machines; and ithas reference more particularly to circular hosiery machines such as disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 1,282,958 granted to R. W. Scott on October 29, 1918, with automatic mechanism for forming closed welts at the tops of the stockings.

The chief aim of my invention is to make it possible to produce on circular knitting machines of the kind specifically referred, what are known as ringless stockings, wherein, instead of a single main or body yarn, several such yarns of like gauge are employed in the knitting, with the courses respectively formed from them succeeding each other in a predetermined regular order, so that irregularities in the yarns are distributed with preclusion of unsightly horizontal bands or rings in the fabric.

The foregoing objective I attain in practice, as ZOhereinafter morefully set forth, through provision amongst other things, of an auxiliary feed to serve a second main yarn of the same gauge, color and material as the first main yarn, to the needles at a point circumferentially spaced from the usual main yarn feed of the machine, and an auxiliary cam for retracting the web holders of the machine at the auxiliary feed; and by utilizing one of the needle actuating cams of the automatic welting mechanism as an auxiliary stitch cam to knit the second main yarn served to the needles by the auxiliary feed aforesaid.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be manifest from the detailed description following of the drawings, wherein Fig. I is an elevation of a circular stocking knitting machine with automatic welt forming mechanism and ornamental splicing control mechanism, conveniently embodying my invention, portions of the machine having been broken away to expose important details which would otherwise be hidden.

Fig. II is a fragmentary plan view of the machine taken as indicated by the arrows II--II in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a sectional view of the machine taken as indicatedby the arrows III-III in Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a view showing the connections by which the auxiliary cam for the web holders is controlled, the web holder cam ring having been turned into a vertical plane for convenience of illustration.

Fig. V is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. IV showing the auxiliary sinker cam in retracted or idle position.

Fig. VI is a. fragmentary view of the machine partly in elevation corresponding to Fig. I and partly in axial section.

Fig. VII is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken as indicated by thearrows VII-VII in Fig. II, and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. VIII is a view looking as indicated by the arrows VIII.VIII in Fig. VII.

Fig. IX is a diagrammatic view showing the needles, the needle jacks and the needle actuating .cams in linear development together with the 10 auxiliary feed and certain special cams provided in accordance with my invention for the purpose of ringless knitting.

' Fig. X is an elevation of welt topringless stocking such as may be produced in a circular welting knitting machine modified in accordancewith my invention. Fig. XI shows the texture of the fabric of the stocking within the dotted rectangle XI in Fig. X; and v Fig. XII is a diagrammatic view showing how the two main yarns are concurrently fed during the knitting of the body portion of the stocking. With more detailed reference to these illustrations, 1 designates the needle cylinder which is suitably supported for rotation in the bed plate 2 of the machine and which is rotated or oscil-.

lated as required in making seamless stockings, by a bevel gear wheel 3 on the main shaft 4 of the drive mechanism of the machine. Secured to the needle cylinder I is the dial ring 5 for the web holders 6 (Fig. VI) which coact individually with the needles 1 during the knitting. The web holders 6 are actuated by'a'cam groove 8 in a cap ring 9 which rests upon the dial ring 5 and which has adjustable stop screws I0 (Figs. IV and V) to engage with a post II on the bed plate 2. The latch guard ring l2 of the machine is swingable up and down about a pivotal. connection l3'with another post IE on the bed plate 2 at a point diametrically opposite the post ll. Fulcrumed for independent pivotal movement on a transverse pin IS in upstanding lugs l6 of the latch guard ring I! are the usual yarn feeds which include a main yarn feed finger I! and a splicing yarn feed finger l8, as well as a heel and toe yarn feed finger not illustrated, these several feed fingers being individually spring pressed and con-. trolled through vertical thrust rods from the pattern drumv IQ of the machine. The thrust rods for the main and splicing yarn. feeds l1 and machine is also provided with governance of the measuring chain 23. An inwardly reaching bearing bracket 24 rotatively supports in axial alignment with the needle cylinder the shaft of a circular dial 25 affording radial guidance for the loop holding hook instrumentalities' 26 which cooperate with alternate knitting needles 1 during the formation of an initial or set-up course for the stocking welt and again in closing the welt subsequently. The dial 25 is rotated in unison with the needle cylinder I through drive connections including a bevel gear 21 (Fig. III) on the main shaft 4 of the machine, said bevel gear meshing with a bevel pinion 28 on a vertical shaft 29 which is supported for rotation in the bed plate 2. By means of a bevel pinion 30 at the top end of the shaft 29 motion is transmitted to a bevel gear 3| on a horizontal shaft 32 which is suitably journaled on the latch guard ring l2 and from which motion is in turn transmitted, through another bevel gear couple 33, 34 (Fig. VI) to the shaft of the dial 25. During certain rotations of the dial 25, the loop holding instrumentalities 26 are actuated by retractable cams (not illustrated) on a cam plate 35 fixedly supported in coaxial relation to said dial by the bracket 24 aforementioned.

The needle actuating cams of the machine include the stitch cams 36 and 31 which are symmetrically allocated on the cam shell 38 at opposite sides of the top and bottom center cams 39 and 40, and a switch cam 4| by which the usual long butt needles of the series 1 are raised to the idle level as required during toe and heel pocket knitting, and again lowered into action when round and round knitting is resumed. The a pair of lifting pickers 42 and 43, and a drop picker 44, all of which function in the known manner during the knitting of heel and toe pockets.

For the purpose of effecting a subdivision in the needles 1 during the formation of a setting up course at the commencement of a stocking and again during welt closing, the needle cylinder I is fitted with lifting jacks 45 whereof there is one for everyother needle. These jacks 45 are actuated by a jack cam which is indicated at 46 in Fig. IX. In addition, the machine is fitted with a transfer cam 41, a dividing cam 48 and a depressing cam 49, all of which are instrumental in causing the two groups of the needles subdivided by action of the jacks 45 to take different courses through the knitting cams 36, 31, 39 and 40 as they pass the main yarn feed H in the well known manner. The transfer cam 41 is secured to the inner end of a slide 50 capable of movement radially of the needle cylinder in a guide 5| on the bed plate 2, see Figs. II and VII. The position of the transfer cam 41 is controlled by a cam segment 52 on the pattern drum |9 of the machine through a vertical thrust rod 53 with a bevel projection 54, and a horizontal lever 55 which is centrally fulcrumed at 56 on the bed plate 2 and whereof one end lies in the path of the bevel on said thrust rod. The other end of the lever 55 bears against the outer end of the slide 50, which latter, as shown in Fig. VIII, is yieldingly urged outward of the guide by a spring pressed plunger 51. The depressing cam 48 is carried by a separate slide 58 in the guide 5|, and is shifted in and out concurrently with the transfer cam 41. The dividing cam 49 is carried by a slide 59 with radial guidance in another fixed bracket 60 on the bed plate 2, said slide being yieldingly urged outward of the needle cylinder by a concealed spring. As shown in Fig, 11, the

slide 59 carrying the cam 49 contacts at its outer end with one end of a lever 6| which is centrally fulcrumed at 62 on the bed plate 2 and with the opposite end thereof lying in the path of a beveled lug 63 on a thrust rod 64 also controlled from the pattern drum 9 of the machine.

For the purpose of determining an ornamental configuration for the spliced portions of the stocking, the machine is provided with control mechanism for varying the feeding periods of the splicing yarn feed finger I8 during these phases of the knitting. This splicing control mechanism comprises a rotary cam 65 which is secured to the main shaft 4 of the machine, and which z-cts upon a roller 66 at the end of an arm 61 free on fulcrum pin 68 projecting from the frame of the knitting machine. Also free on the fulcrum pin 68 is a second arm 69, which, at the top, has a pivotal connection 10 with one end of a horizontal bar 1 I. At its opposite end, the bar 1| carries ,a pin 12 that rides the periphery of a disk cam 13 on a shaft 14 suitably journaled in the machine frame, said bar being longitudinally slotted at 15 for support and guidance to endwise movement by the shaft. A helical spring 16 in tension between anchorages on the arm 61 and the bar 1| serves to hold the roller 66 and the pin 12 respectively in yielding contact with the'rotary cams 65 and 13. Centrally fulcrumed to the bar 1| at 11 is a horizontal lever 18, which; at one end, has a downward projection 18a adapted to be wiped by a cam lug 19 on the arm 61, and which, at the other end, bears on one end of a cross arm 86. As shown, this cross arm 88 is pivoted at the center on a fixed screw 8|, and has its other end underreaching a projection 82 on the thrust bar 2| for the splicing yarn feed l8. The shaft 14 carrying the disk cam 13 has mounted thereon a ratchet wheel 83, which, during the splicing of the high heel of a stocking, is picked two teeth at a time by a pawl 85; while, during the splicing of the sole of a stocking; said ratchet wheel is picked one tooth at a time by another pawl 86. Both pawls 85 and 86 are given the required picking movements by virtue of pivotal connection respectively at 81 and 88 with the arm 61 at different distances from the fulcrum axis 68. Normally, the pawl 85 is held raised out of contact with the ratchet wheel 83 by a pin 89 on a thrust bar 90 controlled from the pattern drum l9; while the other pawl 86 reciprocates idly upon a. blank spot 9| on the ratchet wheel. During operation of the mechanism, as the disk cam 13 is intermittently rotated in the direction of the arrow thereon by either of the pawls, the bar 1| is gradually moved endwise, with attendant shifting of the fulcrum 11 of the horizontal lever 18. As a consequence, the lug 18a at the right hand end of the horizontal lever 18 is moved closer to or farther away from the cam lug 19 on the roller arm 61. Thus, through the cross lever and the thrust rod 2|, the splicing yarn Y (Figs. I and XI) is lifted out of action for correspondingly greater or longer intervals during successive courses of the splice knitting. To start the control mechanism for heel splicing, the pawl is permitted to drop into engagement with the ratchet wheel 83 under control of the pattern drum 20 through the thrust bar 90. Starting of the mechanism for instep splicing is effected by an initial shift of the ratchet wheel 83 to bring the blank idling spot 9| of the latter 70 to the top of the bed plate 2. Extending latershown, this In order to adapt a circular knitting machine such as has been described for ringless knitting, I

have made the provisions which are about to be described. Mounted for independent movement upon the pivot pin I5 for the usual yarn feed fingers I1 and I8 is an auxiliary feed finger 93 which serves to feed an additional main yarn Y of the same gauge, quality and color as the usual main yarn Y to the needles 1 at a point directly above the transfer cam 41, which latter I utilize as an auxiliary knitting cam, the auxiliary main yarn Y so fed being subject to a regulatable tension device, see Fig. I, consisting of a pair of friction disks 92 free on a fixed stud 94 and subject to a light compression spring 95 whereof the pressure is adjustable by means of nuts 96 engaging screw threads on the stud. When not needed, the auxiliary main yarn feed finger 93 is held in the dotted line position shown at 93' in Fig. IX by a helical spring 91 (Fig. I) at an elevation which will insure its being cleared by the long butt needles of the series 1 when the latter are raised to idle level during heel and toe pocket knitting. The auxiliary main yarn feed finger 93 is permitted to drop into action under control of the pattern drum I9, which to this end is provided with a cam segment 98 to actuate a vertical thrust rod 99 whereof the upper end is bent at 99a to underreach the tail 93a of said auxiliary main yarn finger as shown in Fig. I; For a reason later on explained, the cam segment 98 of the drum I9 is formed at its leading end with a step or shoulder 98a.

In order that the size of the loops formed from the auxiliary main yarn Y may be made to correspond exactly with the loops formed from the main yarn Y under the action of the knitting cams, I have made provisions whereby the transfer (auxiliary stitch) cam 41 can be adjusted vertically. As shown in Figs. VII and VIII, the slide 50 carrying the transfer cam wardly in the guide 5I by a spring pressed plunger I so as to bear against a stop plate IOI which is held against displacement endwise by an upwardly projecting stud I02 engaging an aperture I03 in the top 5Ia of said guide. As shown, the top plate IOI in turn bears against adjusting screws I05 and I06 which pass down through tapped apertures in the top 5Ia of the guide 5I The screw I05 is securable in adjusted positions by means of a set screw I01 engaging it from one side, while a jam nut I08 serves as a fixing means for the other adjusting screw I03. Thus by adjusting either the auxiliary main yarn tensioning means 92 or the transfer cam 41, .or both, it is possible to make the fabric loops drawn from the auxiliary main yarn Y. exactly equal in size to those formed from the usual main yarn Y.

A further feature novel to my invention resides in a cam H0 (Figs. I, II, III and IX) for raising the needles 1 to clear their latches as they approach the auxiliary main yarn feed 93. As

latch clearing cam IIO occupies a vertical recess III in the cam shell 38 of the machine immediately beneath the drop picker 44. A pin II2 projects outwardly from the cam H0.

through a verticalslot H3 in the cam shell 38, and overlies a finger up and down movement in a bearing I I6 secured ally from the outer end of the axis II5a of the finger H5 is an arm II1 which is engaged by one end'of a comparatively strong helical spring 8, the other end of said spring being connected 41 is urged up- II5 which is fulcrumed for to an anchorage screw II9 threaded into the circumferential face of the bed plate 2. A lighter spring I held in place on the outer side of the cam shell'by a screw I2I, keeps the stud II2 of the latch clearing cam IIO yieldingly in contact with the finger 5. Another finger I22 with an axis portion I22a journaled in the post II bears upon the finger I I5 from above, and at the outer end of its axis portion has a short arm I23 overlying the top end of a vertical thrust rod I24 with plate 2 of the machine. The bottom end of the thrust rod I24 rests upon one end of a lever I25 which is centrally fulcrumed on a fixed screw stud I26, and upon the other end of said lever rests the contiguous end of a cross arm I21. This cross arm I21 is likewise centrally fulcrumed on a fixed screw I28, see Fig. I, and has its opposite end pivotally connected at I29 to the top of another vertical thrust bar I30 which is acted upon by the cam segment I3I on the pattern drum I9. Near its bottom end, the thrust bar I30 has a slot connection with a guide screw I32 fixed in the frame of the machine.

A further innovation resides in an auxiliary cam I33 (Figs. IV and V) for retracting the web holders 6 at the region where the auxiliary main yarn Y is served to the needles 1 by the auxiliary feed finger 93. As shown, the auxiliary web holder retracting cam I33 is pivoted at I34 to the Web holder cap ring 9, and has a stud I35 which reaches up through a notch I36 in said ring for engagement in one extremity of a bell crank lever I31. This bell crank lever I31 is fulcrumed at I38 to the top of the web holder cap ring 9, and to the end of its other extremity is pivotally connected a coupling rod I39 which passes through an apertured swivel stud I40 at the upper end of a cam lever I4I fulcrumed at I42 to a fixed bracket I43 on thebed plate 2, see Fig. II. A helical spring I44 surrounding the projecting end of the connecting rod I39 and in compression between the stud I40 and a' collar I45 adjustably set upon I said rod, permits the parts to yield if necessary when the auxiliary web holder retracting cam I33 is moved from the inoperative position shown in Fig. V, to the operative position shown in Fig. IV. Adjacent its fulcrum 42, the cam lever I4I has a laterally projecting curved heel Mla engaged by the top end of another vertical thrust rod I46 whereof the lower end lies in the path of the cam segment I41 on the pattern drum I9. As long as the thrust rod I46 rides on the cam segment I41, the supplemental web holder retracting cam I33 will be held in shown in Fig. IV.

Instead of being made in one piece as ordinarily, the jack cam 46 is, in accordance with my invention, constructed with a retractable section 46a which is secured to a slide I48, see Fig. II, having guidance radially of the needle cylinder I in still another fixed guide bracket I49 on the top of the bed plate 2. A finger spring I50 engaging a stud I5I on the slide I48 tends to keep the outer end of the latter in contact with one end of a horizontal lever I52 which is pivoted at an intermediate point on a fixed fulcrum screw I53 engaged in a bracket I54-on the bed plate 2. The opposite hook end of the horizontal lever I52 is adapted to be engaged by the beveled projection I55 of a vertical thrust bar I56 (Figs. III and IV) whereof the lower end lies in the path of the cam segment I51 on the pattern drum I9. With this arrangement it will be evident that the movable section 46a of the jack cam 46 is held advanced its active position as 1o guidance for up .and down movement in the bed in its active position as long as the thrust bar I56 rides the cam segment I51 of the pattern drum.

The operation of the machine is as follows: At the beginning of the stocking a subdivision is effected in the needles I by the concerted action of the jacks 45 under the influence of the jack cam 46 and the depressing cam 49 for the purpose of producing a setting up course from the main yarn Y fed by the main yarn feed finger H (which alone is in action at this time). In a subsequent course alternate needles form their loops over the hooks of the loop holding instrumentalities 26 in the dial 25. The instrumentalities 26 are then retracted to hold the loops and the depressing cam 49 withdrawn to permit actuation of all the needles in thenormal way by the knitting cams to produce the fabric for the welt W of the stocking shown in Fig. X. The transfer cam 41 is then placed into action and the hook instrumentalities 26 again actuated to replace the held loops upon the needles from which they were originally taken, thereby closing the welt along the line A-A in the manner well understood in the art. Instead of being withdrawn as ordinarily at this stage of, the operation, the transfer or auxiliary stitch cam 41 is left in action. During the knitting of a few plain fabric courses, the movable section 46a of the jack cam is retracted from active position so that all the needles I may pass beneath the transfer or auxiliary stitch cam 41. Retraction of the auxiliary jack cam section 46a is effected under the influence of the spring I50, as the thrust bar I56 drops from the cam segment I5I of the pattern drum directly onto the surface of said drum to the position shown in Fig. III. At about the time that the latter event occurs, a

. shift of the pattern drum I9 causes the shoulder 98a of the cam segment 98 to be advanced beneath the thrust rod 99 whereby the auxiliary main yarn feed finger I3 is moved from its high position indicated at 93' down to the intermediate position shown at 93" in readiness tobe placed into action. Also concurrently with the last described occurrences, the latch clearing cam III) is raised to its operative position by engagement of the cam segment on the drum I9 with the thrust rod I30, and the auxiliary web holder retracting cam I33 placed in its operative position by engagement of the thrust rod I46 with the cam segment I41 on said pattern drum, Slightly later during another shift of the pattern drum I 9 the high portion of the cam segment 98 advances beneath the thrust rod 99 whereby the auxiliary main yarn feed finger 93 is moved into feeding position as shown in full lines in Fig. IX, the timing being such that the needle first to have its latch cleared by the cam IIO arrives at said auxiliary feed finger just as the latter is fully lowered to preclude dropping of the loops of the main yarn held on the needles. From then on, both the main and the auxiliary main yarn are served to the needles concurrently after the manner conventionally shown in Fig. XII to produce ringless fabric down through the leg portion L of the stocking. When the line BB, Fig. X, is reached, the splicing yarn feed finger I8 is released for action under governance of the pattern drum I9, and the pawl at the same time permitted to drop into engagement with the ratchet wheel 83 of the splicing control mechanism, also under governance of the pattern drum. By action of the control mechanism, the splicing'yarn finger I8 is moved into action for progressively increasing periods during the knitting of successive courses of the fabric with formation of the ornamentally-configured high heel at N, the ratchet Wheel 83 being picked two teeth at a time as hereinbefore described, to compensate for the additional main yarn Y fed to the needles by the feed finger 93. The result of the splicing action is diagrammatically shown in Fig. XI from which it will be observed that the loops of the splicing yarn Y are coincident only with the loops of the usual main yarn Y. When the line C-C (Fig. X) where the knitting of the heel pocket H is to be commenced, the splicing yarn feed finger I8 is withdrawn from action, the pawl 85 lifted from engagement with the ratchet wheel 83 of the splice control mechanism incident to another shift of the pattern drum I9, and the latch clearing cam I I 0 lowered as the cam segment I 3| (Fig. I) of said pattern drum advances beneath the thrust bar I30. Also at the same time, the transfer or auxiliary stitch cam 41 is withdrawn, the auxiliary main yarn feed finger 93 lifted out of feeding position, and the auxiliary web holder retracting cam placed in inactive position by substantially simultaneous dropping of the corresponding thrust bars 53, 99 and I46 off the cam segments 52, 98 and I" respectively of the pattern drum I9; while the switch cam 4| is brought into action to raise the long butt needles into idle level in preparation of the knitting of the heel pocket H which takes place in the usual manner, the heel pocket being knit with heel yarn served by another feed finger (not illustrated) which is substituted for the main yarn finger at the time the machine enters into a reciprocatory phase of operation. After completion of the heel H, the long butt needles are lowered to active level by the switch cam M as the machine is restored to rotary operation, and the main yarn and splicing yarn fingers I1 and I8 are again placed in action with attendant retraction of the heel yarn finger aforementioned, and the splicing control mechanism at the same time restored to activity. Then, by round and round knitting, the instep I of the stocking is produced. While in the present instance the ringless knitting is terminated at the line CC, it is obviously possible within the scope of my invention, to provide duplicate cam control segments on the pattern drum I9 similar to those hereinbefore described whereby the transfer cam 47, the latch clearing cam II II, and the auxiliary main yarn feed finger 93 and the auxiliary web holder retracting cam I33 may be replaced in action after knitting of the heel pocket H to produce a ringless knit instep. After completion of the instep I, the machine is once more set into oscillation to produce the stocking toe T in the usual way from the heel yarn, the feed finger for which is substituted for the main yarn feed as the latter oscillatory phase of the machine is initiated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A circular stocking knitting machine comprising a series of needles and'cooperating web holders, a main yarn feed, knitting cams for actuating the needles to draw fabric loops from the main yarn, automatic welting mechanism with cams circumferentially spaced from the knitting cams adapted to actuate the needles during the formation of setting up courses and in closing of the welts of the stockings and a splicing yarn feed; in combination with means for adapting the machine to ringless knitting including an auxiliary feed for separately feeding, during each rotation of the needle cylinder incident to the knitting of the stocking body, an auxiliary yarn corresponding in gauge, quality and color to the main yarn for formation intofabric loops by the needles while the latter are actuated by one of the cams of the welting mechanism, and means for controlling said splicing yarn feed so that the splicing yarn is interknitted with only one of the two main yarns in the reinforced portions of the stocking.

2. A circular stocking knitting machine comprising a series of needles and cooperating web holders, 2. main yarn feed, knitting cams for actuating the needles to draw fabric loops from the main yarn, automatic welting mechanism with cams circumferentially spaced from the knitting cams, including a transfer cam influential upon the needles during the closing of the stocking welts and a splicing yarn feed; in combination with means for adapting the machine to ringless knitting including an auxiliary feed for separately'feeding, during each rotation of the needle cylinder incident to the knitting of the stocking body, an auxiliary yarn corresponding in gauge, quality and color to the main yarn for formation into fabric loops by the needles while the latter are actuated by the transfer cam aforesaid of the welting mechanism, and means for controlling said splicing yarn feed so that the splicing yarn is interknitted with only one of the two main yarns in the reinforced portions of the stocking.

3. A circular stocking knitting machine comprising a series of needles and cooperating web holders, a main yarnfeed, knitting cams for actuating the needles to draw fabric loops from the main yarn, means for retracting the web holders in the region of the main yarn feed, automatic welting mechanism with cams circumferentially spaced from the knitting cams and including a transfer cam adapted to influence the needles during the closing of the stocking welts and an auxiliary yarn feed; in combination with means for adapting the machine to ringless 40 knitting including an auxiliary feed for separately feeding, during each rotation of the needle cylinder incident to the knitting of the stocking body, an auxiliary yarn corresponding in gauge, quality and color to the main yarn for formation into fabric loops by the needles while the latter are actuated by the transfer cam aforesaid of the welting mechanism, an auxiliary cam for retracting the welt holders at the auxiliary yarn feed, a cam for actuating the needles to clear their latches as they approach the auxiliary main yarn feed, and means for withdrawing from action the transfer cam, the auxiliary web holder retracting cam and the needle latch clearing cam upon change of the machine from its rotary to its oscillatory phases to knit the heel and toe pockets of the stockings, and means for controlling said auxiliary yarn feed so that the auxiliary yarn is lnterknitted with. one of the V main yarns in thereinforced portions of the stocking.

ii. A circular stocking knitting machine in accordance with claim 1, including in addition, means for controlling the activity of the splicing yarn feed and for varying the periods of its activity during successive rotation of the needle cylinder in forming ornamentally configured spliced areas above the heel and in the instep portions of the stockings, and means for actuating the splicing yarn control means in such manner as to compensate for the added auxiliary main yarn in the knitting.

5. A circular stocking knitting machine in accordance with claim 2, including means whereby the transfer cam can be adjusted vertically for the purpose of securing uniformity between the fabric loops respectively formed from the auxiliary and main yarns.

6. A circular stocking knitting machine comprising a series of needles and cooperating web holders, a main yarn feed, knitting cams for actuating the needles to draw fabric loops from the main yarn, means for retracting the web holders in the region of the main yarn feed, lifting jacks associated with alternate needles, automatic welting mechanism with a cam to actuate the jacks for the purposes of effecting a subdivision in the needles during the formation of-setting up courses and during closing of the stocking welts, a transfer cam adapted to influence the needles during the closing of the stocking welt and a splicing yarn feed; in combination with means for adapting the machine to ringless knitting including means for removing the jack cam fromaction upon the completion and closing of the stocking welts, an auxiliary feed for separately feeding, during each rotation of the needle cylinder incident to the knitting of the stocking body, an auxiliary yarn corresponding in gauge, quality and color to the main yarn for formation into fabric loops by the needles while the latter are actuated by the transfer cam aforesaid of the welting mechanism, an-auxiliary cam for retracting the web holders at the auxiliary yarn feed, a cam for actuating the needles to clear their latches as they approach the auxiliary yarn feed aforesaid, and means for withdrawing from action the transfer cam, the auxiliary web holder retracting cam and the needle latch clearing cam upon change of the machine from its rotary to oscillatory phases to knit the heel and toe pockets of the stockings, and means for controlling the splicing yarn feed so that the splicing yarn is interknit with one of the main yarns in the reinforced portions of the stocking.

HARRY E. KA'IZENMOYER. 

